Need more time to file your taxes? You’re in good company — roughly 40% of Americans haven’t filed yet, and the good news is the IRS offers an automatic six-month tax filing extension to anyone who asks. If April feels like it sneaked up while you were trying to remember where you last saw your W-2, don’t panic. With a single simple form — Form 4868 — you can buy yourself time until mid-October. But beware: Even though the IRS will let you delay your paperwork, they still expect you to pay any estimated taxes owed by April 15 to avoid penalties or interest. That’s right — the IRS plays nice… but only if you pay up front.

Key Points:

• Anyone can file for a six-month tax extension; it's not just for special cases.
• To get this automatic extension, submit IRS Form 4868 before April 15, 2025.
• You can file Form 4868 electronically using IRS Free File or print and mail it in.
• The new tax filing deadline with the extension becomes October 15, 2025.
• You still need to pay any taxes owed by April 15 — the extension is for filing, not paying.
• The extension form only requires basic information — name, address, Social Security number, and a rough estimate of your tax liability and what you’ve paid so far.
• “There’s something almost perverse about the IRS placing tax day smack-dab in the middle of the loveliest month of the year.” — Fast Company
• Pro tip: If you think you’ll owe and can’t pay, consider setting up a payment plan through the IRS rather than ignoring the deadline.

Extra Info:

• The IRS is expected to process around 130 million individual tax returns in 2024.
• The IRS Free File service is available for those making $79,000 or less a year.
• Don’t forget — extensions don’t cover state taxes. Check with your state’s tax agency for local rules.

Bottom line: Filing Form 4868 is your tax season snooze button — just don’t sleep on paying what you owe.
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